Something is wrong with Lefty! Ouch! Mastitis??

I woke up this morning with a very sore left breast, just behind and under the nipple.
There is a little redness in patches on the areola and it feels like there is a lump behind the nipple. It really hurts to feed on that side!
Does it sound like I have mastitis??
What should i be doing to help it clear up?

I have never had a problem like this before! And i breastfed DD for 22 months! Why would this happen now?

Thanks for your help and advice
x x x

I hope that it isn't mastitis for you. Could you be a little engorged? Did bub sleep longer than normal last night? I had mastitis in hospital and again it started this week. But this time I managed to get on top of it at first signs. When I was in hospital they put me straight on anti biotics and I got physio using ultrasound everday. If it persists You should see the doctor. Don't let it linger in hope it will get better. In the mean time though, hot packs on breast before feeding, massage and feed it out. The physio told me to massage with the back of an electric toothbrush. Also take panadol to keep temperature down (another sign of mastitis).

Good Luck, take care and look after yourself ;)

I have had this many times with DD2 but never with DD1. Make sure you empty the breast completely at feeds and feed often. If you have to express the good breast and feed from the sore one, then do that although don't neglect the ok one too much or you will get a blockage there too. Massage the area before feeding and apply a heat pack, hot face clothe, or go into the shower and allow the warm water to run over the breast while massaging. Then feed afterwards and put a cold compress on after feeding. It is painfull to massage the area but you need to clear the blockage before it develops into mastitis. Of all my blockages, only one developed into mastitis when I couldn't clear the blockage. I started getting flu like pains and felt so run down and then had to have AB. So give it at least 48 hrs if you are not feeling fluish and just make sure you do everything to clear the blockage. Oh yes, I have tried putting a cabbage leaf on my breast while not feeding and it did help. The blockage cleared faster so try that too if you don't come right with the other methods. Phone the ABA as well. They have lots of advise. Good luck. I know it can be really painfull.

SOunds like it could be a blocked milk duct to me, thats how my mastitus started when i got it, within a few hours i had a large lightning bolt shaped red lines across my boob and was in agony. Went to the docs and a quick course of meds and it was gone. Infact the lines went within a few hours and the pain within a few days!!! but i couldnt move my arms it was so painful! hope it isnt mastitus and you can fix it yourself!! maybe make a doc appointment to be safe!!
:) hugs to you.

How are you feeling?
What you are describing sounds like a blocked milk duct which you may be able to fix before it turns into mastitis. But if you are feeling tired, head achy, sick, like you've been hit by a bus, like you are getting the flu (or start feeling like this in the next few hours) then you could be pretty sure that mastitis has already set in.
But in the mean time do what Miss H has suggested, get that leftie in the shower or under a hot flannel before a feed, massage the spot during the feed and see if you can work that blockage out. Like Miss H I've had several blockages but only one couldn't be cleared and ended up as mastitis.

Hope you can work it out soon.

Thanks for your replies!

I phoned the ABA and they said maybe it was thrush??? I have now developed red lines on the top of my breast and have shooting pain aswell. I am feeling pretty good otherwise though, a slight headache but i think that is due to lack of sleep. I managed to get into the Dr's this arvo which is great.

I just expressed everything i could out of that breast as my baby has decided to have a long nap! (never happens any other time!!). Am just about to jump under the shower to see how that goes.

Once again, thanks for your help! I'll let you know how I go.
x

Went to the Doc's this arvo and she said I have mastitis! I am on antibiotics...

How do i make sure my milk supply doesn't dry up!?? I am feeding off this breast first at every feed. Is that all i can do???

Thanks heaps!
x

Your milk won't dry up from the AB and you are still feeding so this won't happen. Just make sure you clear that duct. Maybe feed on the affected breast twice and the third one can be on the ok breast. Make sure you are applying heat and massaging it. Hope you get better soon. It can be really horrible to have mastitis.

The redlines are a give-away for mastitis. Mastitis feels really horrible :hug: It's great that you got onto abs so quickly.

As well as the abs, it's best to keep up the other things to help clear the blockage. You have had some great suggestions - the only other ones I'd add are to feed on all fours - this way gravity helps you, and to try different feeding positions so that your baby's chin can help work the lump out.

Your supply won't be affected - the frequent feeding will be good for your supply. It might seem as though your supply is low as the blockage could be affecting the milk coming out. The best thing you can do is just keep feeding and trying to clear the blockage.

Best of luck hun.

Glad to hear you got onto some antibiotics. Just make sure you take the full course even if you're feeling better. As the girls have said keep up heat packs, massage and feeding. Try to get some rest also. Hope you are feeling better soon.

My supply always increases when I am trying to clear a blockage as I feed so often. It soon settles back down again though.

Thanks for the great advice everyone.. I have started to feel a bit fluey so have taken some panadol. Hopefully antibiotics will kick in soon..

My baby has been pulling at the nipple when i feed. It is absolute agony!

I guess i should be expressing the 'good' one to keep the supply up there.. is that the right thing to do? He only usually drinks from the one side at a time.

Thanks so much ladies.

x

It is very important to express the other one at the times when he would normally have drunk from it (i.e. every second feed). This is because the last thing you want is a second blockage!